Looking out onto Eskifjordur, in Iceland’s Eastern Fjords
Talking Point 19: Fishing for experiences
I’m fortunate (or is it unfortunate) enough to have never had to fish for my supper. I’ve never had to bait up a line, cast off, reel in or gut a fish. I’ve never really driven a motor boat either. So perhaps it was a little foolish of us to rent a motor boat, borrow a couple of rods and set off to explore Eskifjordur to try and catch a fish supper. But it just seemed too good an opportunity to miss. Iceland is famous for its fishing and the fjords of Eastern Iceland are a picture perfect place to give it a go.
We’ve got the gear but no idea
It wasn’t until we were out in the fjord that it dawned on me we really had no idea what we were doing beyond circling perpetually while dangling lines over the side of the boat. It took us fifteen minutes to figure out how to start the boat and get it in gear. Out in the fjord it took another ten minutes to figure out how to release the clutch on the fishing reels and a further ten to wind all the line back in again after it whirred its way into the depths.
Fishing in Eskifjordur, looking out to the peninsular at Mjoeyri
Having fun arguing
Still it was fun to be out on the water arguing over whose turn it was to hold the rods or steer the boat. At least until the mist rolled in and the land disappeared much like the fish. Despite our best efforts unfortunately (or is it fortunately) nothing bit on the lines. Which is probably just as well for I think if a fish had landed in the boat some of us would have jumped straight out.
It all sounds like a pretty unsuccessful family fishing adventure. And I guess it would have been if we really had needed a fish for our supper. But fortunately (or is it unfortunately) it really didn’t matter; we weren’t fishing for dinner, we were fishing for experience.
We tried and we failed. That’s what I call success…
I used to think an adventure had to be something in which you are tested in some way, achieve something or acquire a new skill. Perhaps I’m getting old and lazy, for these days I’m less about catching the fish, or even about learning how to fish. I’m just happy to get out and do something new. So we went fishing. We tried. We failed. We learnt nothing. But we had a lovely time.
Talking Points
Have you been fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to go out and fail at anything lately? Do you ever go fishing just for experiences? Do you think failure is a success?
Join the Conversation
Talking Point is our series of short Photo Friday posts. Each week we pick a photo and post a talking point and invite you to join the conversation. Do leave a comment with your thoughts.
For more photo inspired fun why not check out Travel Photo Thursday from Budget Travelers Sandbox, Photo Friday at Delicious Baby or Friday Dreaming at RWeThereYetMom.
I fish at our lake for the experience, the solitude, the quietness in my head – never to catch something. Then I’d have to take it off the hook!!
Thanks for linking up!
I love it! We’ve often not caught anything when fishing because we’re certainly not experts, but enjoy the experience anyway.
I laughed when I read this, because I can imagine what our family would look like trying to figure out fishing on the fly like that. Glad you guys got to try it out and had fun!